Women Behind the Mission - Wendy Sirchio
As part of our WAC Women Behind the Mission series in honor of Women's History Month, we are highlighting the remarkable women who help guide and support the work of the World Affairs Council. This week, we feature Wendy Sirchio, whose career in diplomacy and international affairs has shaped her commitment to global engagement and service. In her reflection, Wendy shares how her early experience as a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Department of State influenced her understanding of mission-driven work
What early experience most shaped who you are today?
I was hired by the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) directly after graduation from Duke with a BA in French and Political Science. I was young, naive and had no practical concept of the ways in which the world of international affairs and foreign policy were so interesting and complex. Nor did I have any idea what it meant to have a mission, to serve a higher purpose. The incredible people I was fortunate enough to meet and work alongside during my 15 years working for the U.S. Government - their passion for the work, fierce intellect, tireless dedication to the mission of advancing U.S. interests, making Americans safe, furthering the spread of democracy, lifting up peoples and nations from oppression, and much more - were a revelation to me. I respected, admired, (in some cases feared) and worked hard to rise to their standards. I had traveled a great deal as a young person, and knew others who had as well, but I have never met people who were so knowledgable about the world. Working alongside such bright, dedicated patriots both within and beyond the State Department, both in Washington and overseas, was an honor and privilege that enabled me to understand what dedication to the mission means, and to embrace it professionally and philanthropically, as well as in my personal life.
Is there a historical woman you admire? Why?
I admire Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright immensely. She was a champion of Democracy and of the oppressed, and ruthless in her pursuit of justice. Her family's experience with oppression and suppression in former Czechoslovakia led to her determination to extend NATO membership into the former Eastern Bloc, ending ethnic cleansing by Serbian nationalists in Kosovo through a NATO campaign and seeking justice for the perpetrators of related war crimes. She worked tirelessly to advance and defend democracy globally, and to give more nations a seat at the table, including normalizing relations with Vietnam. She strove to support Women’s Rights by establishing the Office on Women’s Issues within the State Department. Albright’s keen sense of justice and deep appreciation for the freedoms afforded by true democracy allowed her to make a lasting mark as Secretary of State. She was respected and well-liked by America's allies, and respected by our adversaries. She wielded her intellect and sense of humor, compassion and strength to great effect, and walked a fine line between toughness and genuine empathy. As the first female Secretary of State, Albright broke ground and set a high bar for other women to follow: Condoleeza Rice and Hilary Clinton, and hopefully many others to come. Although it’s not a very diplomatic term, it’s my interview, so I will say that for me, Secretary Albright was a genuine “Badass”. I have no doubt she would probably have appreciated that moniker, but too humble to accept it.
What strengths do women uniquely bring to your field?
-First, women tend to be excellent relationship-builders, the cornerstone of diplomacy. It takes not only time, but a combination of factors to build genuine relationships in any profession, and that’s particularly true of diplomacy. It is a profession that requires meeting, engaging and building rapport with people from different cultures, often speaking different languages and/or with vastly different life experiences and perspectives. Patience, a willingness to listen and consider other points of view with curiosity, compassion and genuine interest, are essential. These qualities, along with intuition and ideally little ego, are qualities women tend to possess in abundance and know how to use.
-Second, women are generally more risk-averse than men, which means they tend not to rush into situations and decisions without due consideration of facts and feelings.
-Third, in spite of our intelligence, education and demonstrated abilities, women are nonetheless very often underestimated. This allows us to deploy the perceived “soft” qualities mentioned above, to our advantage. In the end, diplomacy is about people and the relationships we build, and women are some of the most effective.
